A security camera captured the moment a man attempted to snatch a cellphone from someone standing by the window of their home in the middle of the night during a blackout in Camagüey.
The video, shared on Facebook by user Eduardo Enrique Hernández Valdés, was accompanied by the message: "Attempted cellphone theft yesterday at 11:30 PM (Camagüey, Cuba)." The footage captured by the camera shows the front of a house and the moment the attempted robbery takes place.
The recording shows a man arriving on a bicycle, stopping a few steps from the property, and before approaching, putting on a balaclava that he had tucked away in a bag. He then quietly moves towards the window, where the person inside is holding a mobile phone, unaware of his presence.
The suspect tries to snatch the cellphone, but the victim resists, and they struggle for several seconds. Finally, the man flees the scene.
It is unclear whether the thief managed to take the phone. While one user comments on the post that the individual escaped with the device, others claim that the person was able to prevent the theft.
One of the aspects that caught the most attention among those commenting on the video was the apparent planning of the assault. "But they noticed he had the hood in his bag; a sign that he is involved in this. No words, Cuba is getting worse every day," wrote an internet user.
Another revealed that such a modus operandi had been used that same night in another part of the city: "Last night they were doing the same thing on bicycles in Agramonte."
Many comments also pointed out the circumstances that force numerous Cubans to stay near doors and windows at night. "Between the blackouts and the lack of connectivity, people try to find a place where they can get a signal and a bit of fresh air. It's as if you aren't even safe in your own home," summarized an internet user.
Another user agreed with this sentiment: "One can't even feel safe at home in this country, where human misery grows at the same rate, or even faster, than the cost of living," a reflection that encapsulates the feelings expressed by many Cubans following the release of the video.
The scene reflects an increasingly common reality on the island. The prolonged energy crisis forces thousands of people to step out onto the porch, balcony, or windows to catch a breeze or find a mobile phone and internet signal when telecommunications fail.
Just as August began, Cuba experienced its sixth total collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) in 2026: at 10:43 PM on Sunday, August 2, a nationwide power grid disconnection occurred.
In just the month of July, the SEN experienced at least three total blackouts, with interruptions lasting between 48 and 72 hours in several provinces. In Camagüey, during June, power outages exceeded 20 hours per day and the capital city was without television signal for more than four days.
The disruptions also extend to communications. ETECSA reported that during the major blackouts, up to 56.5% of its telecommunications cabinets go out of service, forcing many users to move or stay in exposed areas in an attempt to get reception.
The increase in insecurity during blackouts is increasingly worrying for Cubans. There have been reported thefts in homes taking advantage of the power outages at night.
In Camagüey, criminal activities have also become increasingly visible in recent months. At the end of July, neighbors captured a man who was allegedly stealing solar panels by jumping from rooftop to rooftop, while in April, a woman was seriously injured after being attacked with a knife near the Train Station.
The Cuban Observatory of Citizen Audit (OCAC) documented 2,833 verified crimes in Cuba during 2025, an increase of 115% compared to 2024 and 337% compared to 2023. The thefts topped the list, with 1,536 cases recorded.
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